April 29, 2011

I have writing about match fixing issue in cricket for quite some time now, seems like James Sutherland has read one of my post. Cricket Australia Chief executive, James Sutherland, commented that the last year issue of match fixing could have been avoided if PCB had acted upon Justice Qayyume commission’s recommendations. But Sutherland forgot to mention another more significant incident, where CA (Cricket Australia) could have taken more important stance on Match Fixing. Big cricketing names from Australian has been involved in Match Fixing issues, likes of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh. I have mentioned it in my previous post.

As usual PCB has taken offense to this comment and asked for further investigation of Sutherland’s comments. Sutherland has not said anything new, infect he had only said, what I have been saying for years that the PCB has not done anything to eradicate match fixing issue. I will go even further by saying that, PCB officials are involved in Match Fixing. But blaming that isn’t enough, some gigantic cricket boards have the full backing of match fixing in cricket. Recent memoir by CA former chief Malcolm Speed, Sticky Wicket has caused more ripples in BCCI camp.

Another recent development in Match Fixing saga of Zulqarnain Haider is the capturing of eight suspects. Pakistan media has branded Zulqarnain for leaving his team like a coward. The reason of his abrupt disappearance has not been properly investigated so far and we don’t know what is happening to his case. Zulqarnain Haider was promised a secure return to Pakistan from England by our Interior Minister, Rehman Malik. Zulqarnain’s whistle blowing stance could have been turning point for PCB’s inept administration but media portrayed him as the villain of this whole episode. Some journalists even stated that, Zulqarnain has done all this just to get residency status in England.

March 2, 2011

Shane Warne should be given ‘Saint’ status after his spot on prediction of a tie match between England and India.What are the odds of spot-on prediction of a tie game in cricket? I can’t even calculate.

Shane Warne tweeted eight hours before the game, “Looking forward to the game between india and England today should be a cracker.. My prediction a tie ! ”

After the game he tweeted, “Before u think there was something untoward re prediction of a tie, thought it was going to be a cracker-tie was tongue in cheek-but right”.

Who else could have predicted it right but Saint Shane Warne. I don’t have anything else to say.

February 5, 2011

Match fixing and Pakistan is in the news once again, Scotland yard charged the three Pakistan players. This case is getting curious with the time. It is definitely not the first time match fixing in cricket has been brought up under the spot light. Many famous names are associated with matching fixing in cricket such as Hansie Cronje, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Saleem Malik, Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Wasim Akram and many many more. I wonder; were all of ex match fixers were any less of the culprits than these three under scrutiny?

As I am typing this ICC is about to give final verdict on the careers of these three players. Muhammad Asif, Salman Butt and Muhammad Amir are suffering from a serious weakness, that weakness is PCB. PCB is infested with fat leeches, led by clown – Mr Butt. Stockland Yard has charged the three players on the suspicion of match fixing. This is an indication, that they have some strong evidence against the players. By any chance I am not in favour of leniency with corrupt players but I would like to have an honest and neutral judgment. If ICC really wants to eradicate this issue they have to dig up the graveyard and some of the high profile previous players have to be stripped-of their records. I really do not think ICC really wants to solve the problem. They are just looking for an easy way out of this mess that has been created. ICC is acting like a failed corporation, which is only trying to save its image by demonstrating it’s supremacy over weak members of the board such.

Another not so well published incident is of a very talented Indian batsman, Suresh Raina. Sri Lanka Police had provided some evidences of Suresh Raina being in contact with bookmakers. The similarity of these two events is astonishing. But the differences are not that small either, Sri Lankan Police is no Scotland yard and this case is not being handled by a feeble cricket board like PCB. Has ICC has closed its eyes on other issues? Maybe they are not strong enough to even argue with the with the money earning son; BCCI, which has grown larger than the two elder brothers.

Looking at the financial issues of ICC and its member boards, I wonder how some of these boards manage to run their lavish affairs. A couple of ‘No Balls’, can earn hundred and thousands of dollars to a player then perhaps they are not the only one’s involved in. One would ask the blunt question about cricket board’s involvment in this lucrative market? The bookmaker, Mazhar Majeed himself mentioned that he had earned $1.5m from one test (Sydney 2010: Aus Vs Pak). A blunt thought would be: what if the players are just the tools, just another way for cricket boards to generate extra revenue? You are only bad if you get caught.

December 23, 2010

Shane Warne is no stranger to drowning down to the low but this is one of his effective ‘leg break balls’ to remain alive in the media. Somehow he becomes more eminent in his home country after all vulgar acts he get involved into, ironically, Tiger Woods was branded abominable for some similar acts. I cannot understand the double standards for a very similar act.

Recently Shane Warne has launched his career as an Anchor person for a TV show ‘Warnie’ for a channel in Australia. In one of the interviews he asked Australian Captain, Ricky Ponting, he asked a cliché’d question, “If you could be anybody for a day, who would you be?” Ricky replied,” I would have said Tiger Woods a year ago but I’ll take that back”. Warnie laughed sheepishly because he knows that Tiger woods doesn’t have ‘on again off again wife’ and at least Tiger woods wasn’t hitting on married women.

February 11, 2010

Leg spin bowling is certainly most difficult skill to master in cricket and it is most fascinating to watch as well. Shane Warne is considered as the best leg spinner bowler. In the following video the King of leg spin bowling Shane Warne explains his way of bowling.

Shane Warne’s main weapons were his leg spin and straight one, often mentioned as flipper. I regard Abdul Qadir from Pakistan as the best Googly bowler that I have ever seen followed by Musthaq Ahmed also from Pakistan.

Anil Kumble is another great leg spinner from India who was not a great turner of the bowl but he used to bowl bit quicker than conventional leg spinners.

Terry Jenner is former Australian leg spinner who had influence on Shane Warne. In following video he explains leg spin bowling in easy way.